Flaskless squeeze molding machine

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to molding machines. The molding machine forms a mold by squeezing a molding medium located in the molding chamber between the vertically spaced pattern plate which cover the upper and lower ends of the molding chamber. After mold formation the upper pattern plate is removed and the molding chamber together with the bottom pattern plate are tilted to a horizontal orientation. The mold is pushed out of the flask onto a pouring conveyor.

i United States Patent 11 1 1] 3 62 [i] 92 [72] Inventor Russell M. Taccone 3,008,199 1 1/196] .leppesen 164/22 1 N g fg FOREIGN PATENTS [21] App 0. Filed Dec. 16,1968 129,625 /1948 Australia 164/212 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser [73] Assignee Bangor Punta Operations, lnc. Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel New York, N.Y. Attorney-Patrick .l. Walsh [54] FLASKLESS SQUEEZE MOLDING MACHINE 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

52 use! 164/1183,

164/40,164/187,164/192 ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to molding machines. [51] lnt.Cl B22c17/08 The molding machine forms a mold by squeezing a molding Field of Search 40, medium located in the molding hamber between the yen]. 1 187,133,192, 196,198, cally spaced pattern plate which cover the upper and lower 207, 209, 212, 213, 224 ends of the molding chamber. After mold formation the upper pattern plate is removed and the molding chamber together [56] References Cited with the bottom pattern plate are tilted to a horizontal orienta- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion. The mold is pushed out of the flask onto a pouring con- 2,937,421 5/1960 Taccone 164/207 X veyor.

s M Jill- PATENTED BEEN SHEET 1 UF 6 IN VENTOR. RUSSELL M TACCONE NEWEU HEW? SHEET 2 BF 6 INVENTOR. RUSSELL M. TAccoNE PATENTED EH12! I971 SHEET 3 BF 6 INVENTOR. RUSSELL M. TAccoNE BYMXKMJZ PATENTEU DEE? m SHEET w UF 6 INVENTOR. RUSSELL TAccoNE MYENTEU WHEN M SHEET 5 OF 6 INVENTOR. RUSSELL M.TACCONE MXM FLASKLESS SQUEEZE MOLDING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This is a molding machine of the type generally called flaskless, for forming green sand molds and depositing them on a conveyor in a vertical relation to each other ready to be poured.

A molding chamber, bottom pattern plate and guidance system are mounted on trunnions in the machine. The molding chamber, commonly called flask, and pattern plate are normally in position under an aerator connected to the discharge chute of an overhead sand hopper, where the flask is filled with sand.

A removable section below the aerator is shifted to bring a top pattern or backup plate in position directly above the flask. The flask and bottom pattern plate are elevated to engage the top pattern and the bottom pattern continues up inside the flask, forced by a squeeze cylinder mounted in the base of the machine, and compressing the green sand between the two pattern plates. The mold thus formed is stripped from the top pattern, and flask, mold and bottom pattern rotated through an arc of 90 to the discharge position, when the mold is forced from the flask into matching engagement with the previously made mold on the receiving platform. The finished molds can be poured on the receiving platform or removed to some other suitable place for pouring.

Objects of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide an improved flaskless molding machine wherein molds can be made and stacked on a conveyor for pouring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molding machine that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved molding machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flaskless molding machine wherein molds can be made and deposited on a receiving platform for pouring.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flaskless molding machine whereintwo adjacent molds on the receiving platform form a mold cavity and succeeding and preceding molds support said molds for pouring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a machine according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are partial longitudinal cross-sectional views of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the machine in three different stages of the formation of the mold.

FIG. 6 is a view of the machine shown in FIGS. I through 5 showing the machine with a flask rotated 90 for discharge.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the mold being ejected onto a conveyor.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 through 5 showing the flask filled with sand just before the pattern plate is lowered into place prior to the stageof molding shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a view of the brake comprising a part of the machine.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an optional feature of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the result of the use of one method of the optional feature shown in FIG. 10.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine shown has a fixed frame 10 and a movable frame 18. The machine further has the trunnion frame which is rotatably supported on the fixed frame by means of the trunnions 21 which allow the movable frame, the trunnion frame, flask and stripping rods 22 to be swung from the vertical position shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 to the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The stripping rods 22 are slidably received in the lifting base 26 and are fixed to the retraction plate 32. The stripping rods 22 are likewise received in bearings shown in the bottom 44 of the flask 19. The flask 19 is fixed to the upper end of the movable frame 18.

The center column 29 is fixed to the bottom pattern plate l4 and it is slidably received in the bottom 44 of the flask. The center column is likewise slidably received in the trunnion frame 20.

The brake 14 is fixed to the movable frame by means of frame element 40 and the brake slidably receives the center column 29. The brake as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 frame has the frictional elements shown which are made up of the resilient fluid-receiving members 42 which may be inflated by fluid and have the concave frictional members 41 on their inside surface. The frictional members 41 comprises a plurality of individual elements mounted for movement radially inwardly and outwardly of the brake frame. This radial movement allows the frictional members to move into and out of contact with the center column. Thus, by inflating the inflatable members 42 the frictional surface 41 can be brought into engagement with outer periphery of the center column 29 to either lock it in position or to reduce the rate of its descent.

The fixed main cylinder 16 is fixed to the base 12 and it has a piston rod 17 in it which engages the lower end of the center column 29. Thus, when the inflatable members 42 are deflated, the cylinder I6 can be used to raise the pattern plate 14 up in the flask to thereby compress sand between the lower and upper pattern plate. When the force on the cylinder I6 is released, the weight of the center column, bottom pattern plate and stripping rods 22 will cause the pattern plate to move downward. The rate of descent of the pattern plate can be determined by the amount of friction caused by the force of fluid in the inflatable members 42.

The flask may be lifted relative to the pattern plate by means of fluid pressure in cylinders 27 that act on piston rods 28 to elevate the movable frame 18 and with it, flask 19. Thus, the flask 19 can be brought up into engagement with the upper pattern plate 13 and the locating pins 23 will be received in holes 24 so that the sand 25 in the flask can be compressed.

Fluid to the inflatable members 42 will be inserted through the air line 31 or other suitable source of fluid under pressure.

The upset 33 is fixed to the head 11 as shown in FIG. 2 and the head III is carried backward and forward on the frame 10 by means of an actuating cylinder 39 and a suitable piston rod in it. When the head is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2, sand may be dropped through the hopper 37 and past the propeller blades 35 (driven by motors 36) which will aerate the sand and let it fall freely into the flask 19 around the patterns 45 on the pattern plate. When the sand has completely filled the flask, the cylinder 39 will move the head lll to bring the upper pattern plate 13 over the flask to the position shown in FIG. 8. The flask will then be elevated by means of cylinders 27 and piston rods 28 to bring the pattern plate to the position shown in FIG. 3. The cylinder 16 will then actuate the piston rod 17 to act through the center column 29 to force the lower pattern plate up to the position shown in FIG. 4, thus compressing the sand between the upper and lower pattern plates.

The upper cylinders 43 may then be actuated so that the flask I9 is moved downward. As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 and 8 the flask 19 is provided with a pair of flanges 60 which are engaged by upper cylinder 43 for the purpose of moving the flask downwardly. The flask l9, trunnion frame 20, stripping rods 22 and lifting base 26 are then swung to a position shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. I a tilting cylinder 62 cooperates with the trunnion frame through a suitable linkage (not shown) for tilting he trunnion frame and the movable frame from the vertical position to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 6. The cylinder 38 then advances with its hook 46 into engagement with the retraction plate 32. The cylinder 38 will then push the mold sand 25 into engagement with the finished sand mold 25 on the conveyor 47. The conveyor 47 is provided with upstanding sidewalls 64 which serve to align the molds on the conveyor with respect to each other in cooperation with the surface of the molding conveyor. The flask 19 can then be retracted by the cylinder 38 to the position shown in FIG. 6 and the trunnion frame swung to bring the flask 19 under the head 11. The operation can be repeated. A suitable track 34 will be supported on the machine to carry the head 11 and the upset 33.

Referring now to the drawings, the operation of the molding machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the flask 19 which is fixed to the movable frame 18 is positioned in a vertical orientation to receive sand 25 from a hopper 37. A pattern plate 45 is located in the bottom of the flask for imparting the desired cavity to the bottom face of the mold. A set of propeller blades 35 aerate the sand as it falls into the mold. The upset 33 is mounted for movement together with upper pattern plate 13 on track 34 so that the hopper and the upper pattern plate can be positioned over the flask 19 as desired. A cylinder 39 moves the pattern plate and the upset along the track 34.

As described above, the flask is fixed to the movable frame 18, and the movable frame and the flask tilt about a trunnion bearing 21 by means of a trunnion frame 20. The movable frame 18 is in turn mounted on the trunnion frame by means of a sliding guide or stripping rods 22 and center column 29.

After the upper pattern plate is brought into position over the flask as shown in FIGS. 8 and 3 through 5, the lower cylinders 27 lift the movable frame 18 and the flask l9 upwardly to register with the upper pattern plate 13. Locating pins 23 on the pattern plate cooperate with receiving holes 24 on the flask to provide for registration of the flask with respect to the pattern plate 13. During this upward movement it will be observed in FIG. 3 that the trunnion frame 20 has remained stationary and the movable frame has moved upwardly with respect to the trunnion frame with the guide rods 22 and center column 29 sliding with respect to the trunnion frame. When the flask is in the uppermost position, the main cylinder 16 engages the center column 29 by means of piston rod 17 (FIG. 4) to compress the sand and to form a mold. After mold formation the upper cylinders 43 cooperate with flanges 60 on the sides ofthe flask, to lower the movable frame, i.e., to move the sand mold downwardly from the upper pattern plate. During downward movement the lower cylinders 27 are used to control movement of the movable frame in cooperation with upper cylinders 43. During this downward movement the brake 15 remains locked with respect to the center column to hold the bottom pattern'plate in position with respect to the sand mold.

Referring to FIG. 6 the trunnion frame together with the movable frame is tilted from the vertical to the horizontal by means of a tilting cylinder 62 shown in FIG. 1. In the horizontal position the trunnion frame 20 again remains stationary and the movable frame 18 slides on stripping rods 22 with respect to the trunnion frame 20 for the purpose of advancing the flask 19 toward the receiving conveyor 47. A cylinder 38 equipped with a hook 46 engages the retraction plate 32 and pushes the movable frame 18 toward the receiving conveyor. Of course, during this movement the brake 15 is released.

As shown in FIG. 7 the actuating cylinder 38 moves the guide rods 22 and the bottom pattern plate 13 through the flask 19 for pushing the sand mold onto the receiving conveyor 47. Upstanding sidewalls 64 cooperate with the surface 65 of the receiving conveyor for aligning adjacent molds.

After pushout of the mold occurs, the cylinder 38 retracts the bottom pattern plate into the flask and tilting cylinder 62 moves the trunnion frame together with the movable frame to a vertical orientation for a repetition of the machine operation.

FIGS. and 11 illustrate a modification according to the present invention in which the sand 25 in the mode 19 is compressed by the use of blocks or rams 48 and 51 strategically positioned respectively in the sidewall and top pattern plate 13 of the molding chamber; Suitable cylinders 49 and 52 actuate the blocks 48 and 51 for compressing the sand. FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing the positioning of the compression rams 51 and strategic location with respect to the top pattern. Actuation of the compression rams 48 and 51 may take place during or after the compression stroke of the bottom pattern plate described above.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property on privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A molding machine comprising a fixed frame,

a trunnion frame rotatably supported on said fixed frame,

a plurality of stripping rods slidably supported on said trunnion frame,

a movable frame, slidably mounted on said trunnion frame,

a flask supported on said movable frame, a lower pattern plate attached to said stripping rods,

a molding head having a top pattern plate attached to it,

a main cylinder fixed to said frame,

means on said lower pattern plate adapted to be engaged by said main cylinder to force said lower pattern plate into said flask to compress sand between said pattern plates,

means for forcing said flask into engagement with said upper pattern plate,

a conveyor for finished molds,

means to swing said trunnion frame generally through an arc of to swing said flask to a position into alignment with molds on said conveyor,

and means on said machine for moving said stripping rods for forcing said lower pattern plate relative to said flask and thereby force said mold onto said conveyor.

2. A machine for forming molds comprising:

a fixed frame,

a first pattern plate mounted on said fixed frame,

a trunnion frame mounted mounted for rotation with respect to the fixed frame,

a movable frame having a flask fixed thereto,

a second pattern plate located adjacent one end of the flask,

means for supporting the second pattern plate for movement with respect to the flask,

means for locking the position of the second pattern plate with respect to the flask,

a plurality of stripping rods connected to the second pattern plate for guiding the movement thereof, said stripping rods being slidably mounted with respect to said trunnion frame and said movable frame,

means for moving the flask into registry with the first pattern plate,

and power means for moving the second pattern plate supporting means for compressing a molding medium in the flask between the first and second pattern plates to form a mold.

3. A machine for forming molds comprising:

a fixed frame,

a first pattern plate mounted on said fixed frame,

a trunnion frame rotatably mounted with respect to said fixed frame,

a movable frame having an initial vertical orientation,

a brake means mounted on the movable frame,

a plurality of rods slidably mounted with respect to the trunnion frame,

said rods being further slidably mounted with respect to the movable frame,

a flask fixed to the movable frame and adapted for movement with the movable frame into registry with said first pattern plate,

a second pattern plate mounted on said rods for movement through said flask,

a column connected to the second pattern plate and cooperating with said brake means so that the position of the second pattern plate may be fixed within the flask,

means for introducing a molding medium into the flask,

means for moving the movable frame and flask into registry with the first pattern plate,

means for moving the second pattern plate toward the first pattern plate to form a mold therebetween,

means for moving the movable frame away from the first pattern plate,

means for rotating the movable frame upon the trunnion frame to a horizontal orientation, and means for moving the second pattern plate to push the mold out of the flask.

4. The molding machine as defined in claim 3 in which the rods are connected to a common plate at their ends remote from the second pattern plate, and further wherein the means for pushing the mold out of the flask comprises a cylinder adapted to engage and move said common plate.

5. The molding machine of claim 2 wherein the flask has a bottom plate adjacent the second pattern plate, the movable frame has a lift plate, connected to its lower portion, and wherein said rods are slidably mounted with respect to said flask bottom plate and the lift plate.

6. The machine recited in claim I wherein means is provided to align molds on said conveyor with each other whereby molten material can be poured into cavities in said molds.

7, The machine recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said stripping rods extends through said trunnion frame,

a locking frame is attached to said movable frames,

said stripping rods being slidably received in said cushion frame,

locking means on said locking frame,

said means on said lower pattern plate adapted to be engaged by said cylinder comprising a center column attached to said bottom pattern plate and extending through said locking means,

the end of said center column being engaged by a piston rod in said cylinder for forcing said bottom pattern plate toward said upper pattern plate.

8. The machine recited in claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises a frictional member slidably engaging said center column and an inflatable member extending around said frictional member and means to inflate said inflatable member for forcing said frictional member into engagement with said column whereby said column can be held in fixed position relative to said trunnion frame.

9. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein upper fluid-actuated cylinders are attached to the upper part of said machine,

said upper cylinders being adapted to engage means on said flask for forcing it downward toward said elevating cylinders.

10. The molding machine of claim 3 wherein the flask has a bottom plate adjacent the second pattern plate, the movable frame has a lift plate, connected to its lower portion, and wherein said rods are slidably mounted with respect to said flask bottom plate and the lift plate. 

1. A molding machine comprising a fixed frame, a trunnion frame rotatably supported on said fixed frame, a plurality of stripping rods slidably supported on said trunnion frame, a movable frame, slidably mounted on said trunnion frame, a flask supported on said movable frame, a lower pattern plate attached to said stripping rods, a molding head having a top pattern plate attached to it, a main cylinder fixed to said frame, means on said lower pattern plate adapted to be engaged by said main cylinder to force said lower pattern plate into said flask to compress sand between said pattern plates, means for forcing said flask into engagement with said upper pattern plate, a conveyor for finished molds, means to swing said trunnion frame generally through an arc of 90* to swing said flask to a position into alignment with molds on said conveyor, and means on said machine for moving said stripping rods for forcing said lower pattern plate relative to said flask and thereby force said mold onto said conveyor.
 2. A machine for forming molds comprising: a fixed frame, a first pattern plate mounted on said fixed frame, a trunnion frame mounted mounted for rotation with respect to the fixed frame, a movable frame having a flask fixed thereto, a second pattern plate located adjacent one end of the flask, means for supporting the second pattern plate for movement with respect to the flask, means for locking the position of the second pattern plate with respect to the flask, a plurality of stripping rods connected to the second pattern plate for guiding the movement thereof, said stripping rods being slidably mounted with respect to said trunnion frame and said movable frame, means for moving the flask into registry with the first pattern plate, and power means for moving the second pattern plate supporting means for compressing a molding medium in the flask between the first and second pattern plates to form a mold.
 3. A machine for forming molds comprising: a fixed frame, a first pattern plate mounted on said fixed frame, a trunnion frame rotatably mounted with respect to said fixed frame, a movable frame having an initial vertical orientation, a brake means mounted on the movable frame, a plurality of rods slidably mountEd with respect to the trunnion frame, said rods being further slidably mounted with respect to the movable frame, a flask fixed to the movable frame and adapted for movement with the movable frame into registry with said first pattern plate, a second pattern plate mounted on said rods for movement through said flask, a column connected to the second pattern plate and cooperating with said brake means so that the position of the second pattern plate may be fixed within the flask, means for introducing a molding medium into the flask, means for moving the movable frame and flask into registry with the first pattern plate, means for moving the second pattern plate toward the first pattern plate to form a mold therebetween, means for moving the movable frame away from the first pattern plate, means for rotating the movable frame upon the trunnion frame to a horizontal orientation, and means for moving the second pattern plate to push the mold out of the flask.
 4. The molding machine as defined in claim 3 in which the rods are connected to a common plate at their ends remote from the second pattern plate, and further wherein the means for pushing the mold out of the flask comprises a cylinder adapted to engage and move said common plate.
 5. The molding machine of claim 2 wherein the flask has a bottom plate adjacent the second pattern plate, the movable frame has a lift plate, connected to its lower portion, and wherein said rods are slidably mounted with respect to said flask bottom plate and the lift plate.
 6. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein means is provided to align molds on said conveyor with each other whereby molten material can be poured into cavities in said molds.
 7. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said stripping rods extends through said trunnion frame, a locking frame is attached to said movable frames, said stripping rods being slidably received in said cushion frame, locking means on said locking frame, said means on said lower pattern plate adapted to be engaged by said cylinder comprising a center column attached to said bottom pattern plate and extending through said locking means, the end of said center column being engaged by a piston rod in said cylinder for forcing said bottom pattern plate toward said upper pattern plate.
 8. The machine recited in claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises a frictional member slidably engaging said center column and an inflatable member extending around said frictional member and means to inflate said inflatable member for forcing said frictional member into engagement with said column whereby said column can be held in fixed position relative to said trunnion frame.
 9. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein upper fluid-actuated cylinders are attached to the upper part of said machine, said upper cylinders being adapted to engage means on said flask for forcing it downward toward said elevating cylinders.
 10. The molding machine of claim 3 wherein the flask has a bottom plate adjacent the second pattern plate, the movable frame has a lift plate, connected to its lower portion, and wherein said rods are slidably mounted with respect to said flask bottom plate and the lift plate. 